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CORRUPTION NEWS

2020 CPI a disappointing case of history repeating itself

Every year around this time, Transparency International (TI) releases its Corruption Perceptions Index – and every year we report on South Africa’s consistently lacklustre showing. In the previous CPI the country scored 44. In 2018 and 2017 it scored 43. Before that, South Africa managed 45 (2016), 44 (2015). 44 (2014), 42 (2013), and 43 Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

MEDIA ADVISORY: 2020 CPI to be released on 28 January 2021

Perceptions of corruption in South Africa will be under the spotlight again on Thursday, 28 January 2021, when Transparency International, the leading civil society organisation tackling corruption worldwide, will release its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).  The 2020 edition of the CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on Read more >

LITIGATION

Zuma, Thales corruption trial looms after latest challenge dismissed

On Friday morning, 22 January, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed, with costs, the bid by French arms company Thales to challenge racketeering charges. Known at that time as Thomson-CSF, Thales was a supplier in South Africa’s controversial multi-billion-rand arms deal in 1999. The charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering are linked to the hugely Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Markus Jooste still a free man – but that will change, says NPA

In late 2017 the Steinhoff scandal broke, sending tremors of anger and outrage around the world, especially in the countries where the South African multinational retail holding company traded or was listed. Accounting irregularities dating back to 2015 were uncovered during an auditing probe triggered by the refusal of Deloitte, Steinhoff’s auditing firm at the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Mauritius and others under scrutiny for money-laundering

Mauritius, that lazy, friendly little island in the Indian Ocean, beloved of holidaymakers and honeymooners, has a dark side. It is also a favourite haunt of money launderers and tax evaders and in fact, is known as one of the world’s top corporate tax havens. In July 2019, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ (ICIJ) Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

New Trillian revelations show need for robust public procurement laws

Since 2017, Corruption Watch has been calling for probes into and criminal charges regarding the professional conduct of auditing firms and service providers such as KPMG, McKinsey, Deloitte, and Trillian. These firms and others have been implicated in dodgy dealings with several state owned enterprises including Eskom and Transnet, as well as the South African Read more >

OPINIONS

Africa can clamp down on illicit flows by using AUCPCC effectively

By Sabeehah Motala Illicit financial flows (IFFs) are costing Africa $30-billion to $40-billion per year and have eroded African countries’ tax bases, hampering their abilities to respond effectively to Covid-19 emergency needs. Lockdown, states of emergency, and all the accompanying implications mean that developing states are more vulnerable than ever to the possibility of illicit Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

CW: swoop on corrupt officials in VBS scandal to be applauded

The second wave of arrests of individuals involved in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank, this time focused on municipal officials, represents an important step towards holding accountable those responsible for one of the most blatant abuses of resources intended for the provision of basic services. The first arrest in this second phase took place Read more >